Carl W. Kenney II is an award winning columnist and novelist. He is committed to engaging readers into a meaningful discussion related to matters that impact faith and society. He grapples with pondering the impact faith has on public space while seeking to understand how public space both hinders and enhances the walk of faith.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

If racism is an accident, what do we do with LL Cool J

What are we
going to do with James Todd Smith? Most know him as LL Cool J.Oh, that means “Ladies Love Cool James”.Black women are having issues with Cool James
right now.We’ll see what happens when
he takes his shirt off.

Cool J, also
known as Uncle L, is sitting on the hot seat for his recent collaboration with
Brad Paisley.The song “Accidental
Racist” has many asking why the 45 year-old mega-star decided to lend his
skills to the song.

"Music
is about ... connecting different people, and building bridges and breaking the
rules. If it's not compelling, and it's not complex and it's not interesting,
then what are we doing it for? So I think that's the right move,” He said on
Good Morning American.

“I needed to
do something that was going to be interesting like that, and shake things up,
and jump out of the box. I'm really proud of it, and I hope the world hears it
and enjoys it."

And shake
things up he did.Paisley and Cool J
expected the song to facilitate a deeper conversation involving the state of
race relations in America. The lyrics
have us looking back in a way that makes it difficult to look forward.The bottom line is a tough pill to
swallow.It’s hard as it is to take the
medicine, the debate on the song may require a collective chill moment.

Yes, chill
and take the pill.

Why would I
say that?Certainly it’s legitimate to
raise questions about a song that seemingly justifies the racist ways of those
living in the South. Certainly there is reason to attack Cool J for pulling
lyrics from a bag of black stereotypes.Certainly, yes, over and over again, both of them should be taken to the
wood shed and spanked for lacking the sensitivity to see how their raunchy
lyrics would stir a huge pot of discontent.

Yes, they
deserve a beating.

But, if we
pause long enough we will uncover the true culprit behind the hysteria.It’s not just the lyrics. It’s much deeper
than that.The reaction to “Accidental
Racist” reminds us that we’re still not ready to talk about race.It’s too painful.It’s too close.We haven’t healed yet, and any mention of the
life and culture that fed the racist ideology of the South will be met with
extreme disdain.

Cool J’s
point is a good one.He simply tried to
stir things up. He wanted people to talk about a topic that we wish would go
away.Yes, it’s an atrocious past filled
with too many memories to count. The song forces us to accept that it’s not
going anywhere until we talk about how we feel about that past.

So, I commend
Paisley and Ladies Love Cool James for trying.It wasn’t a perfect attempt, but at least they tried.Yes, I deplore the lyrics for washing over
the continued implications of that racist past. I get it, but sooner or later
we have to share our views on how all of this makes us feel.

So, back to
the point, what do we do with James Todd Smith?

For those
jumping on the wagon to take Cool J’s black card, hesitate before you take it
away.He’s been accused of being a
Republican and invalidated for that reason.For those who aren’t black, being accused of being a Republican is, in
many black circles, equivalent to saying all black women are ugly.That mess will get you thrown under a bus
after they take your black credentials.

The point is
Cool J isn’t a Republican. He did
support George Pataki’s bid for a third term as Governor of New York in
2002.He also supported New York State
Senator Malcolm Smith, a Democrat, and is a staunch supporter of President
Barack Obama.Cool J claims to be an Independent.
That’s a far cry from being a conservative Republican.

Why does it matter?
Glad you asked.It’s important because
the ploy, within the black community, is to discredit Cool J as one with a
white agenda.Take away his black
card.Prove that he is a traitor and
lacks real sensitivity for those below his pay level.Do it based on the evidence – the song proves
it, and his Republican leanings seal the deal.

It’s all a
bogus effort to limit the form of creative expression that seeks to stir things
up.That’s what all artists should seek
to do.All who write, sing, dance, act
and perform poetry are given space within a limited window to make a
point.It’s often an incomplete
point.It often requires a second
chapter.Most of the time it needs three
of four before the conclusion.

It’s a tough
pill folks.One that most can’t take.You can’t handle the truth!

The truth is
we can’t talk about race.We talk at one
another.We make assumptions related to
intent, while minimizing the power of creativity.Sometimes art is used to poke fun.Sometimes to heads way over the top.Most of the time it ends with a variety of
missing pieces.

That’s art
folks.Oh, by the way, each of us can
play a part.I suggest jump in the
middle and play.

Birth of a Nation

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Carl W. Kenney II

Carl was named the best serious columnist of 2011 by the North Carolina Press Association for his work with the News & Observer's community paper The Durham News and in 2016 by the Missouri Press Association for his columns in the Columbia Missourian. He is a columnist with the News & Observer and Co-Executive Producer of "God of the Oppressed" an upcoming documentary film on black liberation theology. He is a former Adjunct Professor at the University of Missouri - School of Journalism and Adjunct Instructor at Duke University, the Center for Documentary Studies. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He furthered his education at Duke University and attained a Master of Divinity. He was named a Fellow in Pastoral Leadership Development at the Princeton Theological Seminary on May 14, 2005. He is a freelance writer with his commentary appearing in The Washington Post, Religious News Services,The Independent Weekly and The Durham Herald-Sun. Carl is the author of two novels: “Preacha’ Man” and the sequel “Backslide”.
He has led congregations in Missouri and North Carolina